[ Eli's mood has been sour ever since Rilan informed him that his services had been volunteered for him. He's getting a deal on rent for checking over this shit, but Eli would vastly preferred to be paid for the work he did, rather than expected to do it free of cost for the ship owners just so his good friend can get laid.
The fact that Rilan had said with complete sincerity that he thought Eli would enjoy the challenge has somehow managed to make his mood worse.
So that's where his head is when he trudges up to what he's guessing is the correct ship (as long as the dock location he was told was correct), bitter and even a little angry, ready to pick a fight with whoever he's forced to deal with during this whole stupid ordeal.
Only...
Only as he approaches the ship, and the woman standing in front of it turns around to address him suddenly a number of things change at once about Eli's disposition. His back straightens up, his expression smooths out from a scowl into a confused smile, and his hand immediately reaches up to flatten down his hair.
Without missing a beat he responds like he's been in an upbeat mood this entire time. ]
A friend of the contact, at least. He sent me to take a look at your ship.
[ narrowing her gaze, sola eyes him carefully with hand perched on her hip. as is the case with many people, the ship means the universe to her now and she tries to vet each mechanic as best as she can. if only she could do more with her hands, if only she had some kind of special power ...
but there are only so many roles that sola primarch can play. and a permanent, fix-all mechanic is not one of them. ]
Ah, yes, the person Janus knows. [ the corner of her mouth might curl at that, knowing as ever. ] You must be Eli then. [ approaching him with a set jaw and that ever-present sharp look in her eyes ( perhaps softened somewhat so as not to scare off someone who will actually help them ), she extends a hand. ]
[ It's hard not to laugh at the word "knows" considering the reason for this visit. Rilan isn't particularly subtle about his sexual escapades when talking to Eli, but then again Eli's not particularly stealthy about what he gets up to either. It comes with the territory of being such close friends.
Still, it doesn't necessarily seem like the most appropriate time to be laughing at Sola's very diplomatic word choice, even if he does still snort slightly at it, and cover it up by clearing his throat.
Know indeed...
He'll do a better job recovering as she approaches him hand first, and a genuine smile stretches across his face as he reaches out to take that hand in a very gentle handshake. ]
My reputation percedes me, huh?
[ Hardly. He's also not going to mention that her name wasn't dropped at all, but he will slide in some attempts at flirting here. ]
Please tell me you've been left with the duty of guarding the ship, and won't be running off to do some town based errand.
[ she waves her hand. now, now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. ]
I only wanted names.
[ with a reserved nod, she releases his hand before reaching out to touch the very dented exterior of the ship, a victim of their latest big escape through the narrow canyon of their last stop. ] I am the guardian for the time being though there are still a few of us left on the ship, mostly those who would rather be undisturbed. [ everyone knows she is capable on her own, but it does help to have deneb, who often seems five feet taller than sola, around as well. ]
Our issues are primarily with the exterior, held together by threads, though the engine also needs a check-up.
[ Anyone with any ability to fight at all is enough to handle a guy like Eli. He's never been one for scraps, and will just as soon roll over with his metaphorical tail between his legs for anyone that comes at him swinging.
His smile drops a little as she dismisses him almost immediately, but he lets his eyes trail to the ship's hull that she's running her hand over. ]
Some of it's just cosmetic...
[ He says as he starts to walk down the length, narrowing his eyes as he takes in minor details here and there that seem like they could potentially become problems in the future. ]
But for the parts you're talking about I can do it the cheapest way with a lot of welding what you have, the slightly less cheap way of welding on panels, and the costly way of Hroginian memory metal.
[ He stops somewhere around the middle of his walk, eyebrows furrowed. ]
Unless your next stop is still within this solar system, I really don't recommend the cheapest way.
[ the slightest crease in her brow deepens as sola begins to calculate the expenses, conjuring up her own estimate before numbers even leave eli's mouth. the engine doesn't need as much maintenance as they had only just performed a great overhaul a few systems ago since the previous one had breathed its last breath at the most inopportune moment. the ship is in good shape otherwise but the damage must run far deeper than sola had even anticipated.
slowly, she exhales through her nostils and closes her eyes briefly, bracing herself. ]
Right.
[ the tension rests in her body, not her voice at least. ]
[ Eli is prone to exaggerations, but when it comes to repair work he tries his best to be honest. There's no real reason for him to upsell here either, considering Rilan is having him do the repair work for free (Eli still refuses to accept reduced rent as proper payment, even if he'll take it). It's just a matter of covering the cost of materials, which there's gonna be a pretty big price jump between what he mentioned.
He reaches up to run his finger very lightly over a particularly nasty looking dent in the ship. ]
The panels aren't going to be much. I have some back at my garage.
[ He pauses, and spins to face her, face suddenly serious. ]
I'm doing the labor for free, but you still have to reimburse the price for the metal though. Maybe a little more than a hundred credits in total for the whole thing.
[ Another look at the ship, and a frown at a few spots. ]
But you're talking at least a thousand for the Hroginian route.
[ He squints at that crack he was touching. ]
You can probably get through a few solar systems with the panels just fine, but I'd recommend having your ship get a once over after a bit to make sure there's no interior damage to the hull.
[ ah, no one told her that. they would be able to secure a deal, certainly. sola is an expert at haggling now, striking deals, bartering to get what she needs. would it be nice, she thinks, to be told things, especially if she's meant to be keeping the ship running while everyone's swashbuckling and causing mischief. the crew certainly has a way of being both tightknit and terrible at communicating. ]
Yes, I will make note of that. [ and she lightly touches the ship once more, somewhat affectionate in the lean, in a way she she normally isn't with other people. that doesn't terrible and they certainly have a hundred credits to spare for the sake of getting themselves from one spot to another. such is the life of a ragtag crew. her thoughts briefly return to their last daring escape and all the ways they could have avoided that but – as always, hindsight is always 20-20.
carefully, because sola doesn't want to ruin the deal that someone else has struck for them for reasons still unknown to her, ] Is there a reason why you are able to do the labor for free? I am certainly not complaining, but I do wonder what else is in it for you besides the pleasure of working on our ship.
[ The question throws Eli for a loop, and he looks away from his ship accessing to spare Sola a glance, or a long look. Look, she's a good looking lady, and the frosty reception doesn't mean he still doesn't appreciate beauty when he sees it in front of him. At least Eli has the same to actually focus on the conversation at hand instead of getting sidetracked by attraction. ]
They didn't tell you? One of the guys on your ship knows a friend of mine... intimately.
[ Unlike some people he knows. He even does a little eyebrow raise on that last word, smirking slightly as he turns back to make sure his judgement of the ship is correct and he's not having them pay for materials only for it to call come out in the wash. ]
That friend happens to be my landlord, and after volunteering my services without asking me, did at least agree to reduce my rent for as long as it took to make up for the work I'm not being paid for.
[ Another look back at Sola. ]
I'm a nice guy, but I don't usually do my job for free.
Oh. [ sola sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. well, there are worse ways to receive a discount on ship services she supposes. ] No, I was not informed of these relations.
[ it had been a vague offering at best, a quick hi and goodbye before jetting off to the next stop. sola doesn't roll her eyes but she does seem a little resigned to her fate, managing a crew of a few hooligans and one responsible man. ] But that was on me to obtain the exact details of the deal. I am now only grateful you agreed to those terms for your own benefit as well.
[ well, at least she has fewer reasons to be suspicious. ]
Shall I let you get to it or do you need more from me?
[ It does seem a bit difficult. All Eli has to deal with is one usually responsible friend who just happened to think with his dick this time before he decided to consult with Eli about how down he was or wasn't for this job. As it turns out, despite what Rilan thinks, Eli isn't necessarily looking for a "challenge" or "change of pace" on what he's working for as much as he's looking for money he can live off of.
As for Sola's question, Eli gives a small nod. ]
Just a small thing. I'm still gonna tell me if you're going with options one, two or three, otherwise I won't be able to do much of anything.
[ Though he's not going to fault her for being sidetracked by the knowledge of how this deal with struck, considering it seems like it's a complete surprise for her. ]
I am willing to spend the additional money on the more expensive metals.
[ don't worry, sola's done all the calculating in her head already and she's prepared to make the sacrifice for the sake of the ship. it was something she already briefly discussed with orion, though it appears that not even the captain had been aware of the intergalactic booty call either.
sigh. ]
It seems like the best option and we have come into some luck lately, [ she continues with a little nod of reassurance, more to herself than anyone else. ]
[ From the looks of the ship, the kind of damage he can see on it, and his knowledge about Rilan's company, the statement has Eli raising an eyebrow. ]
Ah? I won't ask what kind of luck then.
[ He has a feeling he knows, but he's more than happy to pretend he doesn't. Maybe it's for the best he's not being paid for this job, that way nothing can be traced to him.
Not that he hasn't taken jobs from some very shady looking drifters in the past. ]
I can head into town to try and haggle the best price for that metal if you want. There's always some in stock at least...
[ He offers Sola his very best charming grin, because look she might have criminal written all over here, but Eli's still gonna try it. ]
You're more than welcome to come with me if you want. Test it out, see if it's to your liking? The metal, I mean.
[ sola almost cracks a smile at that. he doesn't seem to bothered to be doing business with some shady types, even if one of the shady types happens to carry herself like an aristocrat even in an old flight suit. she manages to relax her posture, even folding her arms over her chest. ]
I might be able to aid you in your convincing.
[ it almost sounds entertaining. sola's lip curls in response to that grin. looks like he isn't so deterred by her wanted status either.
she has no time for such firtations but. but. well, she hasn't had much fun in quite some time. if anything, she is at least interested in seeing what he might try once they're in town. ]
[ When it comes to actual ships in the area, shady types are about all Eli sees. He mostly works on terrain vehicles of locals, but few people are rich enough to own their own crafts, and the commercial and cargo ships that come by get their servicing done on planets with a wider catalogue of mechanics to choose from.
Not that Eli isn't confident in the work that he does, just that he can understand why he and the small handful of other mechanics that live on this planet might not be the biggest draw. The vast majority of D7's population lives in the city of Islae, with a few wild outliers pockmarking the landscape here and there.
When you've got a whole planet with the majority of the population concentrated in one small (by galactic standards) city? You're not likely to want to trust anyone who chooses to settle there to know their stuff about ships. In fact, Eli might be the only mechanic that works on this planet that's technically qualified.
This is all to say that life here can be a little less than exciting, and Eli takes chances where he can get them, both with interesting jobs and interesting people. ]
I'm sure you'll definitely do a better job than I will.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
The fact that Rilan had said with complete sincerity that he thought Eli would enjoy the challenge has somehow managed to make his mood worse.
So that's where his head is when he trudges up to what he's guessing is the correct ship (as long as the dock location he was told was correct), bitter and even a little angry, ready to pick a fight with whoever he's forced to deal with during this whole stupid ordeal.
Only...
Only as he approaches the ship, and the woman standing in front of it turns around to address him suddenly a number of things change at once about Eli's disposition. His back straightens up, his expression smooths out from a scowl into a confused smile, and his hand immediately reaches up to flatten down his hair.
Without missing a beat he responds like he's been in an upbeat mood this entire time. ]
A friend of the contact, at least. He sent me to take a look at your ship.
no subject
but there are only so many roles that sola primarch can play. and a permanent, fix-all mechanic is not one of them. ]
Ah, yes, the person Janus knows. [ the corner of her mouth might curl at that, knowing as ever. ] You must be Eli then. [ approaching him with a set jaw and that ever-present sharp look in her eyes ( perhaps softened somewhat so as not to scare off someone who will actually help them ), she extends a hand. ]
Sola.
no subject
Still, it doesn't necessarily seem like the most appropriate time to be laughing at Sola's very diplomatic word choice, even if he does still snort slightly at it, and cover it up by clearing his throat.
Know indeed...
He'll do a better job recovering as she approaches him hand first, and a genuine smile stretches across his face as he reaches out to take that hand in a very gentle handshake. ]
My reputation percedes me, huh?
[ Hardly. He's also not going to mention that her name wasn't dropped at all, but he will slide in some attempts at flirting here. ]
Please tell me you've been left with the duty of guarding the ship, and won't be running off to do some town based errand.
no subject
I only wanted names.
[ with a reserved nod, she releases his hand before reaching out to touch the very dented exterior of the ship, a victim of their latest big escape through the narrow canyon of their last stop. ] I am the guardian for the time being though there are still a few of us left on the ship, mostly those who would rather be undisturbed. [ everyone knows she is capable on her own, but it does help to have deneb, who often seems five feet taller than sola, around as well. ]
Our issues are primarily with the exterior, held together by threads, though the engine also needs a check-up.
no subject
His smile drops a little as she dismisses him almost immediately, but he lets his eyes trail to the ship's hull that she's running her hand over. ]
Some of it's just cosmetic...
[ He says as he starts to walk down the length, narrowing his eyes as he takes in minor details here and there that seem like they could potentially become problems in the future. ]
But for the parts you're talking about I can do it the cheapest way with a lot of welding what you have, the slightly less cheap way of welding on panels, and the costly way of Hroginian memory metal.
[ He stops somewhere around the middle of his walk, eyebrows furrowed. ]
Unless your next stop is still within this solar system, I really don't recommend the cheapest way.
no subject
slowly, she exhales through her nostils and closes her eyes briefly, bracing herself. ]
Right.
[ the tension rests in her body, not her voice at least. ]
How many credits will that be?
no subject
He reaches up to run his finger very lightly over a particularly nasty looking dent in the ship. ]
The panels aren't going to be much. I have some back at my garage.
[ He pauses, and spins to face her, face suddenly serious. ]
I'm doing the labor for free, but you still have to reimburse the price for the metal though. Maybe a little more than a hundred credits in total for the whole thing.
[ Another look at the ship, and a frown at a few spots. ]
But you're talking at least a thousand for the Hroginian route.
[ He squints at that crack he was touching. ]
You can probably get through a few solar systems with the panels just fine, but I'd recommend having your ship get a once over after a bit to make sure there's no interior damage to the hull.
no subject
Yes, I will make note of that. [ and she lightly touches the ship once more, somewhat affectionate in the lean, in a way she she normally isn't with other people. that doesn't terrible and they certainly have a hundred credits to spare for the sake of getting themselves from one spot to another. such is the life of a ragtag crew. her thoughts briefly return to their last daring escape and all the ways they could have avoided that but – as always, hindsight is always 20-20.
carefully, because sola doesn't want to ruin the deal that someone else has struck for them for reasons still unknown to her, ] Is there a reason why you are able to do the labor for free? I am certainly not complaining, but I do wonder what else is in it for you besides the pleasure of working on our ship.
no subject
They didn't tell you? One of the guys on your ship knows a friend of mine... intimately.
[ Unlike some people he knows. He even does a little eyebrow raise on that last word, smirking slightly as he turns back to make sure his judgement of the ship is correct and he's not having them pay for materials only for it to call come out in the wash. ]
That friend happens to be my landlord, and after volunteering my services without asking me, did at least agree to reduce my rent for as long as it took to make up for the work I'm not being paid for.
[ Another look back at Sola. ]
I'm a nice guy, but I don't usually do my job for free.
no subject
[ it had been a vague offering at best, a quick hi and goodbye before jetting off to the next stop. sola doesn't roll her eyes but she does seem a little resigned to her fate, managing a crew of a few hooligans and one responsible man. ] But that was on me to obtain the exact details of the deal. I am now only grateful you agreed to those terms for your own benefit as well.
[ well, at least she has fewer reasons to be suspicious. ]
Shall I let you get to it or do you need more from me?
no subject
As for Sola's question, Eli gives a small nod. ]
Just a small thing. I'm still gonna tell me if you're going with options one, two or three, otherwise I won't be able to do much of anything.
[ Though he's not going to fault her for being sidetracked by the knowledge of how this deal with struck, considering it seems like it's a complete surprise for her. ]
no subject
[ don't worry, sola's done all the calculating in her head already and she's prepared to make the sacrifice for the sake of the ship. it was something she already briefly discussed with orion, though it appears that not even the captain had been aware of the intergalactic booty call either.
sigh. ]
It seems like the best option and we have come into some luck lately, [ she continues with a little nod of reassurance, more to herself than anyone else. ]
no subject
Ah? I won't ask what kind of luck then.
[ He has a feeling he knows, but he's more than happy to pretend he doesn't. Maybe it's for the best he's not being paid for this job, that way nothing can be traced to him.
Not that he hasn't taken jobs from some very shady looking drifters in the past. ]
I can head into town to try and haggle the best price for that metal if you want. There's always some in stock at least...
[ He offers Sola his very best charming grin, because look she might have criminal written all over here, but Eli's still gonna try it. ]
You're more than welcome to come with me if you want. Test it out, see if it's to your liking? The metal, I mean.
[ He does not. ]
no subject
I might be able to aid you in your convincing.
[ it almost sounds entertaining. sola's lip curls in response to that grin. looks like he isn't so deterred by her wanted status either.
she has no time for such firtations but. but. well, she hasn't had much fun in quite some time. if anything, she is at least interested in seeing what he might try once they're in town. ]
no subject
Not that Eli isn't confident in the work that he does, just that he can understand why he and the small handful of other mechanics that live on this planet might not be the biggest draw. The vast majority of D7's population lives in the city of Islae, with a few wild outliers pockmarking the landscape here and there.
When you've got a whole planet with the majority of the population concentrated in one small (by galactic standards) city? You're not likely to want to trust anyone who chooses to settle there to know their stuff about ships. In fact, Eli might be the only mechanic that works on this planet that's technically qualified.
This is all to say that life here can be a little less than exciting, and Eli takes chances where he can get them, both with interesting jobs and interesting people. ]
I'm sure you'll definitely do a better job than I will.